[K12OSN] Netgear GS748T switch

Tue Oct 4 22:53:09 UTC 2005

Be careful with that company.  A while back on this list, someone had a
connectivity problem with a Netgear switch.  He called up Netgear, and
they asked him what operating system he was running (not that it
matters).  When they heard that the OS on the computer was GNU/Linux
(again, this *does not* matter for OSI Layer 2 connectivity purposes),
they basically told him to go to Hell until he uses a "supported" OS
like Windows.

I read your hyperlink below, and I know they say that they support
"Linux".  But don't you believe it.  Also, God help you if you have,
say, a *BSD file or print server and they ask you what OS is on it,
since they don't list *BSD as a "supported" OS.  Also, Netgear says that
it's managed via a Web browser.  Find out what kind(s) is/are supported
*before* you plunk down the cash!  I'd call their tech support
department and ask them.  Don't ask the sales dweebs; ask the people who
actually do the tech support.  While you're at it, be sure to ask how
much the SFP modules cost, both copper and fiber.

If you choose to go with this switch, also make sure, before you do,
that it *fully* supports GVRP.  This is a protocol that allows the
propagation of VLAN information across multiple switches; think of it as
the open version of Cisco's proprietary VTP.  If you don't have either
GVRP or VTP, then you're looking at manually configuring VLANs across
all your switching architecture.  Since all of my schools run multiple
VLANs with at least ten switches per school (our secondary schools now
have over 100 switches!), not having this feature is a major problem for
us.  That's the chief reason we went with Cisco instead of Amer.com; a
year ago, we actually were considering the latter.  However, if you're
dealing with just three to five switches, then it may not be an issue.

--TP

On Tue, 2005-10-04 at 16:28 -0600, Ben Nickell wrote:

> We are spec-ing out a new school and were thinking about using these
> switches..
> 
> http://www.netgear.com/products/details/GS748T.php
> 
> Has anyone used this switch?
> 
> It seems these are only $800 for a 48 port, sort-of managed gigabit switch.
> 
> We don't need gigabit to every port (and likely can't use it now, but
> for that price it is not much of a premium, so might future proof)
> 
> Any other suggestions?
> 
> Thanks,
> Ben
> 
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